President Muizzu must face criminal charges over the Ras Male' project: Ali Hussain

Former Member of Parliament and legal expert Ali Hussain has asserted that the government's decisions regarding the leasing and sale of land under the Ras Male' project facilitate corruption, and has called for criminal charges to be filed against President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu over the matter.

Speaking on RaajjeTV’s "TV Talk" program this week, Ali Hussain stated that President Muizzu is acting in direct contradiction to his campaign promises. He noted that the President came to power pledging never to cede a single grain of sand or an inch of the nation's territory, and vowing not to sell out the country even if offered the weight of the Maldivian people in gold. He further characterized the decision to grant 500 hectares of land for 99 years under the Ras Male' project as akin to selling the nation's territory to a colonial entity like the "East India Company." Hussain argued that leasing land for 99 years is effectively a total sale of that property. He pointed out that by the time this agreement expires nearly a century from now, none of the individuals currently witnessing the signing of the deal will be alive to see its conclusion.

Ali Hussain further noted that although the government initially claimed not a single cent of the state budget would be spent on the Ras Male' reclamation project, they are now spending approximately $650 million of public funds on an area that the previous administration could have reclaimed for $250 million to $300 million. He added that numerous essential projects in the atolls, such as water and sewerage systems, were halted while all available state funds over the past few months were diverted to the reclamation of Fushidhiggaru Lagoon.

He noted that the public has remained largely silent on the matter due to the hope of securing affordable housing for families struggling with high rents in Male' through the promised 60,000 housing units. However, he emphasized that the opportunity cost to the nation resulting from this project is immensely high. He further stated that the foreign company currently being considered for the land allocation has a history of facing public protests in other major countries where they attempted similar township developments.

Highlighting that the current administration is prosecuting the Mayor of Thinadhoo through the Prosecutor General for alleged corruption regarding a land lease, Ali Hussain stated that criminal charges must also be prepared immediately in the Ras Male' case. Ali Hussain further asserted that criminal charges must be brought against the President for this matter the moment he leaves office, whether that occurs at the end of this term in 2028 or following a subsequent term in 2033.